Manhunt for ‘missing’ husband of murdered Maritzburg gym owner intensifies
Police found a reel of hosepipe, electrical cable, and a knife in a white VW Polo, which belonged to murdered gym owner Verusha Padayachee.
Roland Pillay with murdered Verusha Padyachee. Image: Facebook
The manhunt launched for Roland Pillay, the husband of murdered Verusha Padayachee, has finally yielded some results, after SAPS officers, detectives from Alexandra Road SAPS and a dog unit found a car on a farm in Hilton, Pietermaritzburg early on Friday morning, reports Public Eye.
Police found a reel of hosepipe, electrical cable, and a knife in a white VW Polo, which appeared to have been switched off after the car suffered damage.
The white polo that was discovered in Hilton.
Police are currently using sniffer dogs to comb the forest area in search of the missing husband.
ALSO READ: Pietermaritzburg gym owner bludgeoned to death
On Thursday, new information came to light that witnesses who met Roland in the period shortly after his wife’s murder, reported that he had bruises and scratch marks on his face. He was also seen at a local pharmacy where he purchased painkillers and plasters.
His wife, 32-year-old Verusha Padayachee, the owner of Reshape Health and Fitness Centre, was murdered at her home in Ascot Park, Lincoln Meade on Monday evening.
There appeared to have been a struggle before she was overpowered and her hands tied above her head with cable ties. Thereafter, she was severely assaulted and possibly strangled to death.
After her death, it is believed that the attacker then fled in her white VW Polo, which has since been found.
Police are intensifying their search, and anyone with any information on Roland Pillay’s whereabouts is urged to call Warrant Officer Naidoo on 084 905 5564 or Crime Stop on 08600 101111.
The public is also warned against approaching Pillay, as he is considered highly dangerous.
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